Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Open House on Sunday, October 7

Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company's Open House will be Sunday, October 7 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the fire department's Main Station, 871 Hopmeadow Street.

The event will be full of safety literature, displays, demonstrations and a visit from Sparky the Fire Dog™. Sparky is the National Fire Protection Association’s fire prevention mascot. Fire trucks and equipment will be on display, there will be firefighter demonstrations and free hats and balloons for the children.

For Fire Prevention Week, the fire company is assisting in fire drills and giving fire safety presentations at Simsbury schools. This year Fire Prevention Week is being observed nationwide from October 7 through 13, and the theme is "Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware – fire can happen anywhere.”

“If you have a reported fire in your home, you are more likely to die today than you were a few decades ago,” according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This year’s theme identifies three things to do to reduce the risk of fire and to be prepared in the event of one: Look for places fire can start, listen for the sound of the smoke alarm, and learn two ways out of each room.

Additionally, teach children how to escape on their own, close doors behind you as you leave and once you are outside, stay outside. Practice your fire drill twice a year, once in the daytime and once at night. Be sure your house numbers are easy to see.

Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871. According to the NFPA, “the fire killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.” Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the NFPA for over 90 years, is the longest-running public health and safety observance on record.